Your workplace is bustling with festive activities. Christmas trees. Christmas decorations. Christmas jumpers. Everything around you says, ‘Christmas is here.’ But beyond the physical activities going on around, you want to foster a sense of community and connection within your teams, and this period is one of the best times to share employee stories.

You understand that not all your employees celebrate Christmas and some simply appreciate the end-of-year festivities. Whatever category they fit into, you want all your employees to feel involved. You want to seize this opportunity to encourage them to share their stories. They’ve worked hard all year and deserve to be heard, seen, and celebrated.

In today’s blog post, we’ll show you how to create an inclusive and engaging storytelling campaign that resonates with all employees. The goal is to create an inclusive initiative everyone can participate in and enjoy.

The plan

Step 1: Kickoff with enthusiasm

Your Communications or HR team launches a storytelling campaign. They send out an announcement via email or your company’s intranet or chat app to all employees, inviting them to share their stories from the year. The message is clear: every story is valuable, and every voice matters.

Step 2: Provide prompts and themes

Some of your employees might need a little help getting started. To get their creative juices flowing, your Communications or HR team provides them with a few prompts:

• What was a memorable moment for you this year?
• How do you celebrate the festive season?
• What achievement are you most proud of this year?

They encourage their colleagues to share stories about their work achievements, personal milestones, or festive traditions – anything that reflects their journey.

Step 3: Share stories across platforms

Your Communications or HR team don’t collect these stories and do nothing with them; they ensure that these stories are shared through multiple platforms: the company’s intranet, social media channels, and internal newsletters. They might dedicate a wall or board in the office where employees can post bite-sized stories, or they can create a digital wall for longer stories, encouraging others to share and read.

The success: Highlights and celebrations

As the stories start pouring in, your company’s culture begins to shine. An employee shares how their collaboration with a teammate helped move a project forward. Another shares a story about their favourite pet and attaches pictures. Another employee shares a story of the support received after having a baby. These stories are not only work-focused; they’re holistic, showcasing the life of your employees within and outside of work and highlighting their interests and hobbies. The stories are shared and celebrated in team meetings, newsletters, and on social media, fostering a deeper sense of connection among employees.

The struggles

Not everyone will enthusiastically share their story, and your Communications or HR team understands this. While they can gently encourage employees to share their stories, they wouldn’t be too pushy. Employees can be encouraged to share their stories when leaders lead by example. They can have leaders and managers share their own stories first. This sets a tone of openness and encourages others to join in. They can provide small incentives or recognitions for those who participate. This could be as simple as a shout-out in the company newsletter or a small gift. They can also assure employees that sharing is voluntary and all stories are respected and valued.

Read Also: Seven Types of Stories to Help You Connect with Your Audience as a Corporate or Nonprofit Organisation

The impact

By encouraging employee stories, you create a more inclusive and connected workplace. These stories can:

• Foster empathy and understanding: Learning about colleagues’ experiences and backgrounds can break down barriers and build stronger relationships.
• Highlight diverse perspectives: Showcasing a range of stories reflects the diversity within your organisation and can inspire innovation and creativity.
• Reinforce company values: Employee stories can demonstrate how your organisation’s values are lived out in everyday actions.

Celebrating the festive season through employee stories brings joy and recognition to your team and strengthens your organisational culture. As you plan your festive season activities, consider the power of storytelling. Encourage your employees to share their journeys, celebrate their achievements, and connect with one another. It’s not just about the holidays; it’s about building a strong, inclusive community where everyone’s story matters.

Make this festive season one to remember by celebrating the unique employee stories within your organisation. Are you ready to hear and share your team’s incredible journeys?

Read Also: Why Showcasing Employee Stories Is Good for Your Employer Brand